[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 31, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41778-41779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3722]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), and as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation 
(NSF) is inviting the general public and other Federal agencies to 
comment on this proposed continuing information collection. This is the 
second notice for public comment; the first was published in the 
Federal Register at 72 FR 29002 and no substantial comments were 
received. NSF is forwarding the proposed submission to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the 
publication of this second notice.

DATES: Comments regarding these information collections are best 
assured of having their full effect if received by OMB within 30 days 
of publication in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding (a) whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
NSF, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) 
the accuracy of NSF's estimate of burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; or (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for 
National Science Foundation, 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, 
Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, 
Arlington, VA 22230 or send e-mail to [email protected]. Copies of the 
submission may be obtained by calling (703) 292-7556.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, NSF Reports 
Clearance Officer at (703) 292-7556 or send e-mail to [email protected].
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information

[[Page 41779]]

unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: FY 2007 and FY 2009 Survey of Science and Engineering 
Research Facilities.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to reinstate an 
information collection for three years.
    Proposed Project: The National Science Foundation Survey of Science 
and Engineering Research Facilities is a Congressionally mandated (Pub. 
L. 99-159), biennial survey that has been conducted since 1986. The 
survey collects data on cyber infrastructure and on the amount, 
condition, and costs of the physical facilities used to conduct science 
and engineering research. It was expected by Congress that this survey 
would provide the data necessary to describe the status and needs of 
science and engineering research facilities and to formulate 
appropriate solutions to documented needs. During the FY 2003 and FY 
2005 survey cycles, data were collected from a population of 
approximately 475 research-performing colleges and universities. This 
survey population was supplemented with approximately 190 nonprofit 
biomedical research institutions receiving research support from the 
National Institutes of Health. Beginning with the FY 2003 cycle, a new 
section was added to the survey requesting information on the computing 
and networking capacity at the surveyed institutions, an increasingly 
important part of the infrastructure for science and engineering 
research. Other important changes include updating the networking and 
computing section, based on technological changes that may occur.
    Use of the Information: Analysis of the Facilities Survey data will 
provide updated information on the status of scientific and engineering 
research facilities and capabilities. The information can be used by 
Federal policy makers, planners, and budget analysts in making policy 
decisions, as well as by institutional academic officials, the 
scientific/engineering establishment, and state agencies and 
legislatures that fund universities.
    Burden on the Public: Based on pretests, the time to complete the 
research space section of the survey (Part 1) ranged from 10 to 85 
hours with an average of 40 hours. The time to complete the computing 
and networking section of the survey (Part 2) averaged 60 minutes. 
Therefore, in total, the time per academic institution to complete the 
survey is expected to average approximately 41 hours. Assuming a 94% 
response rate, this would result in an estimated burden of 18,368 hours 
in FY 2007 and a similar burden in FY 2009. [(.94 response rate x 477 
institutions) x 41 hours = 18,368].
    Because biomedical research organizations generally are not as 
large, diverse or complex as colleges and universities, there is 
substantially less variation in the survey completion time. On average, 
completion time per biomedical research organization for Part 1 of the 
survey was 4 hours. For Part 2 of the survey, average completion time 
per biomedical research organization was 1 hour. Therefore, in total, 
the time per biomedical research organization to complete the survey is 
expected to average approximately 5 hours. Assuming a 94% response 
rate, this would result in an estimated burden of 895 hours in FY 2007 
and a similar burden in FY 2009. [(.94 response rate x institutions)] x 
5 hours = 895]
    Total burden hours for academic institutions and biomedical 
institutions are 19,263.

    Dated: July 26, 2007.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 07-3722 Filed 7-30-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M